Lot 557 D

This “Pyramid” illustrates Gerhard Richter's confrontation with different types of artistic (self-) referencing. This means a transfer of the motif into a new artistic context with the use of a different technique that has two aspects: First of all, the photograph is based on an oil painting entitled “Small Pyramid” (1964) which, in turn, was derived by Richter from a photograph that had originally served as an illustration for an encyclopaedia entry on the Pyramids of Gizeh (see Atlas Panel 5). Photography, painting and again photography - Richter plays very confidently with different media. Moreover, by subjecting each photographic canvas to different lengths of exposure, he explores the difference between multiple and unique objects, so that each item eventually has its own unique character. This “Pyramid” displays the entire bandwidth of rich tones of grey, verging on black in its darkest parts, while developing a special, diffused radiance in its lightest parts. This transfer of one of his own oil paintings to a photographic canvas remained unique in Richter's oeuvre, so that his “Pyramid” is a rare indication of how much he enjoys experimenting. When Richter was interviewed by Rolf Schön about his understanding of photography and painting, he said: “My purpose is not to imitate a photo, but to make one. And if I choose to ignore the concept of a photograph as a photographically exposed piece of paper, then I create photos with different means, not pictures that are a bit like photos.” (Gerhard Richter, Interview with Rolf Schön 1972, in: Hans-Ulrich Obrist (ed.), Gerhard Richter, Text, Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig 1993, p.68).